Barcelona regret letting Abde Ezzalzouli go as Moroccan’s value shoots up

Abde Ezzalzouli has emerged as one of the standout stars in Spanish football this season, with his impressive performances for Real Betis now reportedly causing major regret inside FC Barcelona.

The Moroccan international has enjoyed a remarkable campaign, producing outstanding numbers across all competitions and playing a decisive role in Betis securing qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

In 42 appearances this season, Zalzouli scored 14 goals and provided 13 assists, establishing himself as one of the most influential attacking players in La Liga.

His performances have also attracted growing interest from several major European clubs ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

Barcelona gradually lost control of the player’s future

According to Spanish newspaper AS, Barcelona’s current difficulties in attempting to bring the winger back are largely the result of decisions made by the club itself over recent years.

The Catalan giants initially sold 50 percent of the player’s rights to Real Betis for just 7.5 million euros.

Barcelona later gave up an additional 30 percent of their rights as part of negotiations linked to the termination of Vitor Roque’s loan agreement before his move to SE Palmeiras.

As a result, Barcelona now retain only 20 percent of Zalzouli’s rights, significantly weakening their position in any future negotiations involving the player.

Betis hold strong advantage in negotiations

Abde Ezzalzouli remains under contract with Real Betis until the summer of 2029, with the agreement including a massive 60 million euro release clause.

That figure has placed the Andalusian club in a very strong negotiating position, particularly after the Moroccan winger’s exceptional performances this season.

Betis are fully aware that the player’s value could rise even further ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, where strong performances on the global stage could dramatically increase interest in the Moroccan star.

Financial reality complicates Barcelona return

Even if FC Barcelona decide to pursue a reunion with Zalzouli, the financial conditions would make a deal extremely complicated.

Because Barcelona now own only 20 percent of the player’s rights, the club would still need to pay a massive fee close to the release clause in order to regain control of the remaining majority stake.

The situation is particularly difficult given Barcelona’s ongoing financial problems and the club’s current economic policy focused on controlling spending and reducing financial pressure.

For now, what once appeared to be a manageable transfer situation has turned into a costly and potentially impossible comeback story for the Catalan giants, while Zalzouli continues to establish himself as one of Morocco’s brightest football stars.